Use of plasmid DNA profiling in the investigation of human nosocomial infections

ABSTRACT

The need to control nosocomial [hospital - acquired] infections have spurred considerable efforts in the epidemiological mapping of the routes of transmission of these infection in the recent years. Plasmid DNA- profiling because of its simplicity and a high discriminatory power offers several advantages over the conventional epidemiological techniques [e.g.; sero-typing, bio - typing, antibiotic susceptibility profiling, phage- typing, etc]. This review describes the principles and technique of plasmid DNA profiling in the epidemiological investigations of nosocomial infections in human. Examples of the use of technique in the investigations of Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, other coagulase - negative Staphylococci, Ewingella Americana, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, serratia marcenscens, and Klebsiella infections have been reviewed. In view of the potential pitfalls of the plasmid DNA - profiling, the use of this epidemiological technique in conjunction in other bacterial - strains - typing techniques is recommended